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Memorable and Thrifty
Recently, close friends of mine completed two days of ceremonial bliss at an unbelievably low cost. They held both the rehearsal dinner and the reception at the location of the wedding. This couple had unforgettable fun in creating eclectic fare for their reception.
Married to the M.O.B.
Your best friends are supposed to be your biggest supporters, offering constructive guidance and support through the stressful wedding planning period. But oftentimes, even your best support systems buckle under the strain.
A Second Chance
While the Jackson Police Department's tools for reducing crime include more officers patrolling the streets, restructuring beats and adding new technology, the city of Jackson is in the planning stages of a more complex weapon for fighting crime.
JPS to Keep Accreditation for Now
Jackson Public Schools officially hired a new superintendent May 21 and got some good news on its accreditation status.
Sara Del Castillo
"I really feel that if we can all get organized, this can be a safe space for immigrants in Mississippi," says Sara Del Castillo. She hopes Mississippi will become a haven for immigrants and that education will be attainable for everyone, including undocumented immigrants.
Jordan Hunter
Nathan Hunter III always wanted his son to be a Morehouse man. This fall, he will see that dream come true when his oldest child, Jordan Hunter, attends the nation's only all-male historically black college.
Mayor Refutes Business Challenges
In announcing their candidacies for mayor of Jackson, Ward 2 Councilman Chokwe Lumumba and Ward 4 Councilman Frank Bluntson made changing the city's business practices front and center in their campaigns.
Seersucker Friday
When @FlyJFP Twitter followers make a request, I try my best to deliver. I hear that there are people around town who adhere to the rules of Seesucker Fridays from Easter to the end of the summer. So when they asked for a spread, I was out the next day scouring the city for all the seersucker I could find.
Jayce Powell
Jayce Powell believes in the power of the bicycle to change lives. He considers himself "a lifestyle consultant" in his job as the store manager of Indian Cycle in Ridgeland. "We are passionate about cycling," he says.
One Night at Fenian's
On Wednesday, May 2, a friend asked me to go to Fenian's. I agreed and prior to leaving my house I asked who else would be there. She told me House members would probably be there as it might be the last night of session.
Neesee Ray-Scott and Amanda Purvis
It's not particularly common for people to do what they love and be successful at it, but that's just what mother and daughter Neesee Ray-Scott and Amanda Purvis do. Both are hairstylists at Upscale Images Salon. The salon has been in the family for about 17 years.
[Atkins] Modern-Day Servitude
I was a lowly intern at a major newspaper up north, sitting at my desk in a corner plotting my day when a small, elderly, bespectacled man walked past me to a nearby telephone. Notebook in hand, he picked up the receiver and dialed.
Why Write for the JFP?
Ugh! He's in my office again, with his holier-than-thou arrogance, his buffed-up hair and skin so alabaster he can't have ever seen the sun! What does he want this time? He's complaining about something. I do that thing where I look the speaker in the eyes and nod like I'm engaged, but my mind is elsewhere (note to self: middle daughter has caught on and extracted quite a bit of money from me last time).
[Stiggers] Satirist's Manifesto
I thought this would be a good time to write another reader's guide to my columns published in the Jackson Free Press. Since my last reader's guide, I continue to premiere new satirical characters that provide their opinions on the issues of the day.
Don't Just Complain; Engage!
The Jackson Public Schools board meeting May 1 was packed. Parents and students who had recently learned about the district's rezoning plan lined the walls and stood in the halls to protest the plan, which will close schools and shift students around in the district.
Deep as My Bones
Mama froze. She was holding something, a towel I think it was, and her hand stopped in mid air. Her incessant motion on pause for a moment, she looked at me in disbelief, her brown eyes sad and soft.
To Do Its Job, Council Must Show Up
Jackson has a strong-mayor, weak-council structure. Some City Council members seem to want to weaken their own power even more by not attending meetings and work sessions—or leaving early when they do attend.
The Pursuit of Excellence
Every now and then, I have to lighten up in this space. Rather than taking on the troubles of the world or trying to pull at your heart strings with serious commentary about something amiss in the state of Mississippi, I feel a calling to talk about the Jackson Free Press and our staff this week.
Benefits of Inmate Labor
When I met Haley Barbour he was running for governor for the first time in 2003. It was at the Black Hawk political rally here in Carroll County. I have to give him credit: He is good at the one-on-one politics required at settings like the one here. I believe that he is as much at ease whether at a rural political rally or a corporate boardroom. A year ago, I figured he would be making national headlines when 2012 came around.
[Outlaw] Yes. We. Can.
There was a weight on me—a black cloud that threatened all manner of lightening and rain, and I just couldn't shake it. "This," I thought to myself, "this will never end unless someone who matters stands up for us."